Horatio Hornblower - Delaying The French

0:00Call all hands, beat the quarters. No, no, the guards, stand by, let's tell the barracks. One broadside, in hurry, to please, gap in bush. Point of them, target. Windstuff, really? Eyes are ready. Fire! Presenting Michael Redgrave at CS Barsters in Domino Man of the Sea, Horatio Hornblore.

1:31He's not in the field. He's not in the field. He's not in the field. I say that the imitation is the sincerest formal flattery. Lieutenant Mount, who commanded the bomb catch Harvey, attached to my Baltic squadron. Well, he'd grown to imitate me in every gesture and speech. Well, come well, but I had other things on my mind. Bonaparte's forces were laying siege to the Russian defenders outside the city of Riga. Imitations. Well, the art of war seems to be that of imitation. There definitely was so in the belief of von Kaiser, it's a Prussian Colonel who had deserted Bonaparte in order to oppose him. And who was showing me the Russian earthworks and the lines.

2:31You will observe, from the door, Hornblore, from this vantage point up here on the gallery of the church tower. We can see spread out before as the whole operation. Made in his attempting to move up his heavy guns. The classic method of certain. From the line of the river diagonally up to the pine booths, he has dug a trench. It is protected with best works. Huge baskets, lighter feet with earth. The classic method, I see. Then from the pine woods, another diagonal trench. Yes, and so on and zigzag. Each kept him closer to our lines until he has solid breastwaxed behind which to him pillow he has had the uptills. Yes, yes, but how long before they are in range? Two weeks. Two weeks? It has been done this way since the days of Cedar. Well, nobody will deny that Bonaparte wants to be another Caesar. But you know guns heavy enough to batter down those breastwaxed?

3:33It is no certificate. I have got more to the board, my bomb catches. If we could, we could level him in no time. Yes. And why not do so, Commodore? I said if we could, but that river isn't deep enough. San bars, shallows, quicksands. No, no, we'd run aground before we got within range. I see. So we must carry on the five hour stays. You bet it? The telephone close of it, there is something that even the British Navy cannot do. I understand nothing was impossible to the British Navy. I apologize, Commodore. I was wrong. I would hell the words that came rushing to my lips. Goodwill even between allies is sometimes a frail matter. Earlier we'd been warm friends, but now that the French approaches were moving towards Riga, I was asking why the Russian guns couldn't stop the enemy and they were asking why my ship's guns couldn't do the same.

4:33So I hurried back to Riga. And there on the waterfront I ran across lieutenant Mound. Oh, oh. She was dusty here, but my photos are dry as a camel. Oh, Mr. Mound, if you'll complete it, your business, I have a moment before going back aboard the Nonsense. Or there's a mean over there perhaps you'd join me in a glass of this on beverage they call vodka. Do you miss England, Mound? I said, yes, sir. Yes, I do, sometimes, sir. There's no reason to be ashamed of it. I'm not, sir. Sometimes in the morning, just before I open my eyes, I think of home. There's honey cycle outside my face in Hampshire. It comes in the window, sweetened strong as perfume. You married, Mound? Yes, sir. Long? Little more than a year, sir. Children? We are expecting one, sir. Oh, no.

5:33Any day, now, we are both hoping for a son, sir. I sense a less of my wife, the camcarrot, is on her boy's back. It might be there by now. I wrote her that if it's a boy, I... Yes? I told her to name him Horatio. Oh, I'll do that. Well, if you've no objections, huh? Oh, there's no reason that could serve me, Mr. Mound. It's a commoner, huh? Yeah, listen. There's nowhere. Gunfire. Well, Mound, it seems we're not back in England among the honey cycle, hm? The Halt. The Halt. The Halt. The Halt. The Halt. The Halt. The Halt. The Halt. The Halt. The Halt. The Halt. The Halt. The Halt. Going back on board the nuns, sir, I was both touched and irritated by Mound's killer worship. What glorified me in his eyes, I certainly couldn't imagine. Not my my ship stood idle in the midst of battle.

6:33Line of clinches here. The battery here. The main flank and stores are behind a dike here. Close. Close enough to spit on them. Oh, come, look at the chart. So what, I'll show you. Too shallow for us. I mentioned that to Cluzow. It was not impressed. Oh, then so do I. Well, at least you understood it. And Mound understood it. Well, there. Well, it's a good young officer. Yes, he is. He's a fine filter too. You know, I find quite an affection for young Mound. He lives in Hampshire. He says, have a home there. Well, wife. Well, my hand had chiled on the way. How's he now? Oh, I never even knew he was married. I know, did I? I never thought to inquire. Not before today. I had to drink with him today. Good officer. Yes. I'd only just come in from the best works. Dusty road from there to Regan. My float was as dry as a... As a camel. What's that, sir? As a camel. By heaven, boss of light, didn't I think of that before? What, sir? Oh, we'll gather in sentimental talk about home and all that nonsense.

7:34Bosh a man should keep his mind on his business. And our business is war. Where's the messenger? As a load? Yes, sir? I come through instantly, officer, to the watch. Would he please make signal to the bomb catch Harvey from Mr. Mound? To meet me on shore at once. I order. Can it? Call it to our home, brother. Can? Exactly, can I move on, please? Yes, sir. And General S. now, fifth, Lieutenant Mound and I may have your ear also. Please, sir. Please, sir. However, I believe he's a fool, sir, and on which you're right here in such case. Why? You see, you will use camels. We have no camels. This is not the Sahara, sir. Yes, sir. And a... A camador is an expert on ships. Perhaps these camels are told ships of the death of it. He's an expert on them also. Can a one-class of it? Shall we get down to business? No, I'll make nothing. Well, I hope not. We're all eyes in this center. I'm in tune to... Exactly, General S. Why we talk, the Frenchman, move ever closer and closer. Well, in this instance, gentlemen, a camel is a naval term.

8:36Mr. Mound, will you introduce these gentlemen to the meaning of the word camel? Yes, sir. A camel is a method of reducing the draft of a ship. How about kind of chemics? As the Commodore has already pointed out, the water in the river is very shallow. Two shallow for our bomb catches to come within range of the atmosphere. Yes, yes, yes. I've been told he's over it over. Turn and receive, Mr. Mound. Sir, if two loaded vessels are lash-tightly, one on each side of the bomb catch, and are then emptied of their loads, it will lighten all three and raise them farther out of the water. He's been fired there out of the water. I do not yet comprehend. General, you have some barges in the river? Yes. Barges draw no more than a couple of feet of water when emptied. You will load them with sand, then empty out the sand. The bomb catch could be lifted keen out of the water. I see. And get way, get close enough to bring the guns to bear. Exactly, General. We may come and dare to barges. Big ones prefer to break. That ones come a dark horse. Oh, good. Oh, man, that's only one problem. Yes, sir. Are you going to steer them all?

9:37Throwing less than two feet of water, they'll be almost unmanageable. That's true, sir. They'll drift at the mercy of the wind. Unless, Mr. Mound. By it, George, sir. A Daniel brother. What? General, that's a very large auxiliary rudder set well behind the ships. It's big enough. It will compensate for the lack of bottom to the kiosk. If you say so. Man, you'd also better pierce the sides of the barges and use all as well. Yes, sir. Good, well, we'll proceed at once. How long do you estimate, Mound? I'd say by tomorrow noon, sir. Good morning, noon. You disagree, if I'm not right, huh? You'd come with your hon blower. I didn't order you and your camera. I didn't understand about them. But these past few minutes, I have been observing the activities of the enemy. Please, take these status codes and see for yourself. They are beginning to move out of the big guns. By tomorrow at noon, it may be too late. So the art of war was not entirely imminent, it was after all.

10:37Just as we had refused to accept the inevitable, exactly so had the French Marshal Meidour tried to hasten his timetable. Welcome, the camels progressed with border-layer, phantics, please. The barges were brought out from Riga, the harbour was last-betreatened. Tortures retened the darkness as the men labored to quicken the task to be done. And by dawn, Lieutenant Mound was able to start toward the river. Like three giant water bags, fastened together, the barges and the bomb-ketch began to move. To our account, Horses! What's going on, full hudder? Mr. Wilson, hudder! Horses! Hudder! Hudder! We don't have any courage, we have to come out. I know, sir. We are not deep enough in the water to get any bite against the current or the wind. The Danube rudder doesn't compensate. Even though rudder is a stronger puller, we haven't got it. You better drop out of the front.

11:38But the French guns are moving up. It'll do us no good to go on like this. My daughter may be shallow, but we'll only pile up in the soul water. Pile up and sit there on the soul watching the French batteries pound our allies. There must be some solution, let's hope we find it. Well, we must find it. The bank of Mr. Mound. Eyes up. Two, hands up! French guns are moving up into position to attack the Russian defenders outside Riga. And despite our bright promises, we seem unable to give aid to our allies. We'd raised the harveys by lashing her between two empty debarches, but the wind and current were proving too much for us to handle. There was an hour after dawn. Not a deck of the harveys, a young face of lefton and Mound was grey with fatigue and helplessness.

12:40We've not much time left, not heavy, not much. Only the wind would change. If it would back around behind us instead of being off the starboard. Besides the French guns of the position by Nune. Yes. If the wind shifted we'd be in position two, and shallow water right on Bony's flank. 13 inch shells loaded with explosive fire to that mutton. That must be some replacement for a rudder, sir. Right, trust there is. Heading for the church tower I took with me a warm feeling for young Mound. And I also took a signal man, summers to Riga pose, so that we could get the bomb catch and know the effect of its mortifier. Come upon close of its watch these operations with me. All your dual rigs, signals ready for hoist. Very good summer, standby. Pyser. Come upon close of its, the French siege guns of the position. Come on, Johan, below. And in moment it should open fire. Yes, these boat of yours.

13:40Moving up, river now, Colonel. Oh, yes. It moves us in only. It's an awkward craft. It moves as fast as it can. The French siege guns will be shut up behind us, press works. You see, they are piercing holes in a press works to allow the muscles to protect. Yes, I can see. I'll have it back with a useless a dense press work. Ah, the harveys carry a mortar. Oh, yes. Fighter jet, yes. Very high. Once in position the shells will drop down as it from the sky. You can see the hope. General Eston will be here at any moment observed personally. Good, good. As Colonel General of Riga for silence thunder, he will be very disappointed should your plan fail. I also should be very disappointed. Oh, well. Summer's, there's the ready flag going up on harveys. Yes sir. Ignore it. Hi. Signal is turned up. standby to observe. standby, sir. Commodore from Lauer. Your tip is ready at last. What? Oh, yes. General Eston at last. I shall stand by your side. Please do a describe to me.

14:40I will sir. The mortar is being loaded. It aimed by punting the entire ship black and arrow at the target. Ah. Summer's make signal to harveys. Untarget. Fire at will. Untarget, fire at will. Fire at will. Yes sir. Yes, one has been fired without delay. It's fast as possible from now on general. That's what caught the press works, sir. They've been noble. A siege can destroy it. Look, the muddle is split wide open. Another gun destroyed. Sir, there's a French home strong battery out of the wall. Where do you see that summer's coming up from the rey sir? You're thinking man is right Commodore. They are heading to take up a position on that point of land below your property. Yes sir. They've been brilliant against to bear very soon. Charge if you don't break off more action sir. A moment if you please. Commodore Hornblower, we should be peaked if your mortar fires should continue as long as possible. It is doing much better. Very well very well general. It shall be continued. Uh, uh, summer's keeping eye on that horse-to-one battery. Hello sir. The catch is being fired upon now sir.

15:47Yes I can see that. French cannonball dropping all around you. So I observed in room. The last border race that pumped in over water, very close. Yes, close enough. Summer's signal to the harbour. Discontinue of the action. Fire at will. She's got it sir. They've stripped the anchor and out for the horse. Get her to sails up man. Don't get your sails up. Oh come boy hurry hurry. There go the sails sir. She moved very slowly. She means within rain still. Yes the wind wouldn't drop now. I think she's been hit. This car can tell there is so much smoke. Yes. She's moving now sir. Why is she so old? Yes it's not fast enough summer's keeping. So faster man. Faster. She's reaching for deeper water now sir. But she's still within range. The French is a noxer. They're not tied together any longer. Lieutenant Mound has cut the barges loose summers. Once out of show water the harbour can move faster. No it's a silent sentiment. French batteries.

16:47Stop firing through she's out of range. Yes. Very close call comodore. Very close. But to work you've denied X-Moth. Where do I work it? Comodore Hornblower. Thanks to you I should estimate the progress of the siege. Has been delayed by... Oh... I should estimate by four days. Four days. I should estimate. Four days. Four days is excellent. It gives my catch little delays that the final victory will be won. Four days. All that labor and effort and blood and sweat and then return them. I'm near four more days. I felt inexplicably tired and worn out. The main army of the tired and boner part was marching into russet and all. We could accomplish this.

17:47We could have done it. We could have done it. We could have done it. When the part was marching into russet and all, we could accomplish this. Our post was four days delay. Sir, Mr Wilson is second in command on board the army. With your permission I shall signal him. Signal listen. Yes sir. Land was killed. Yes sir. One of the last shots from the shore. I see. Both are. I delayed signaling to discontinue the action. I delayed till the last moment. He was a file officer. Yes. But he wrote his wife. If his child is a boy, he's used to name him out to me. If only I had not delayed. Now file officer sir was Mr. Mound.

18:48Sir, shall I signal for Mr. Wilson? What's that? Yes captain Bush. Signal Mr. Wilson if you please. The radio is on the radio. The radio is on the radio. The radio is on the radio. Horatio Hohenblower starring Michael Redgrave is based on the novels by C.S. Farrisburg. Music compurs and conducted by Sydney Torch. Produced by Harry Allen Towers.